“I’m going to ask him out.” Rainie declared. They were at the Lotus, Ariel was working as usual.
“Who?” Ariel stopped pouring coffee. She had a very bad feeling about this.
“Joe of course.”
“Oh.” Ariel started pouring the coffee again.
“Yeah. You know him well Ariel, what does kind of girls does he like?”
“I, I don’t know.” That’s a good question. What kind of girls does Joe like?
“Oh well, there’s only one way to find out, right? Do you think inviting him to a movie is a good idea?”
“Yeah, that probably is.” Ariel replied a little weakly. What if Joe says yes? Does that mean he likes Rainie? What happens if he says no? Does that mean he likes me? Of course it doesn’t. Jeez Ariel, who are you kidding. Any guy would pick Rainie over you. If she really asks Joe out, you don’t stand a chance.
“Ariel!” Rainie yelled. “Watch the coffee.”
Ariel snapped out of stupor and jerked her hand away just in time to avoid getting scalded by the coffee she was pouring. Unfortunately, even though her hand avoided the hot liquid, the counter wasn’t so lucky.
“Crap,” she swore and grabbed some towels, trying to clean the small mess up with her back to the door and Rainie.
“Ariel!” Mike ran into the coffee shop. He then noticed Rainie sitting there.
“Oh hey there Rainie.” He smiled his most charming smile. No lady could resist it.
Rainie blushed and felt her heart beat faster. Why am I blushing? She berated herself. You like Joe, remember? Joe, not Mike.
“How are you?” Mike asked.
“I’m fine.” Rainie smiled graciously.
Mike felt extremely happy for some strange reason when she smiled. All his worries seemed to have disappeared.
“Mike, I’m quoting you on this, ‘could you two love birds stop flirting?’” Ariel smirked. She finished mopping up the mini spill.
“We’re not flirting.” Mike replied quickly.
Rainie felt disappointed. Weren’t we? She mentally shook her head. Rainie, what are you thinking. Of course Mike wouldn’t flirt with you.
Ariel grabbed a towel and began going around the café wiping down tables.
“I need a favour.” Mike started.
“No!”
“You don’t even know what I want yet.”
“No, I’m not helping you with bio.”
“Please!” Mike begged.
“No, I don’t have time!” Ariel replied. Mike began following her around like a lost puppy.
“Please, just one time! I’ll pay you.”
“Mike,” Ariel turned around to face him. “I can’t. I am working; I don’t have time to tutor you.”
Mike took this chance to give Ariel his signature puppy dog look. “Pretty please. I really need help. If you won’t do it for a friend, then consider this a normal tutoring job, I’ll pay you double of what you would get working here. It’s just once, please.”
“Hey, you’re not playing fair.”
“Please.”
“Fine,” Ariel relented, “but make that triple of what I would get working here.”
“Deal!” Mike jumped up and hugged Ariel.
——————–
Joe was whistling. He was on his way to find Ariel at the Lotus. His mom just invited her to dinner for tomorrow night, and he can’t wait to show her off to his parents. Sure, Ariel wasn’t his girlfriend yet, but he planed on changing that very soon.
Oh, here I am already. Joe looked in through the large windows to check if Ariel’s there. She was. And Mike was hugging her.
What the heck?
————————-
“When?” Ariel gently pushed Mike away and started to walk back to the counter. “Oh, hug me again and I will kick your rear end. I am not one of your bimbo’s.”
Mike ignored her second comment, “Tonight?”
“I’m busy.”
———————–
Joe pushed the door to the Lotus open. What is going on? Ariel is not a touchy feely person, why did she hug Mike?
———————–
“Tomorrow night?” Mike tried again.
“Alright.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Ok.”
———————–
Joe walked in to the café.
“I’ll see you tomorrow night!” Mike happily called on his way out the door. He barely noticed Joe. “See you later Rainie.”
Ariel smiled. He is such a kid.
Rainie frowned. Does Mike like Ariel? He seems far too happy just because she agreed to tutor him.
Joe felt weird. Did she just agree to go out with Mike? Why do they both look so happy? They don’t like each other do they? Mike knows I like Ariel… Would he…?
“Hey Joe.” Ariel smiled and put a cup of coffee on the counter. “2 creams, one sugar.”
“Thanks.” Joe’s voice sounded a bit weird even to himself.
“You ok?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah, I totally believe you.” Ariel said sarcastically. “What’s bugging you?”
“You.” Joe wanted to say, but he stopped himself. If Ariel did agree to go out with Mike, then there’s nothing he can do. Don’t make a fool of yourself Joe.
“Joe?” Rainie asked. Ariel had almost forgotten she was there.
“Yeah?” Joe turned his stool to face her.
This is your chance Rainie. She encouraged herself.
“Do you want to go see a movie tomorrow night? With me?” She said in a rather hesitant voice.
Joe was shocked. He looked at Ariel; she was facing away from him, busily wiping mugs. I don’t like Rainie. Mike likes her. But Mike asked Ariel out when he knew I like her. Why not go out with Rainie? She seems nice enough.
“Sure.” Joe wasn’t looking at Rainie when he answered her. He was looking at Ariel.
———————-
What? Ariel was shocked. He actually agreed. I guess I really was thinking too much. She turned around. He was looking at her. Ariel could feel her heart speeding up. He’s looking at her in a really intense way. They looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Why is he looking at me like that?
———————
Joe looked away first. He didn’t like the question in Ariel’s eyes.
“How does tomorrow at seven sound?” He asked Rainie.
“That sounds great.” Rainie almost squealed. He agreed!
Joe stood up. “I’ll see you tomorrow night then.”
——————–
“Congratulations.” Ariel said to Rainie once Joe left. She felt like she was going to cry and she was jealous, but she wasn’t petty enough to hate Rainie for it.
“Yeah, thanks.” Rainie beamed. She was too happy to notice Ariel’s discomfort.
“I need to use the washroom.” Ariel disappeared, leaving Rainie confused.
—————-
Hi my dear readers 
This chapter is the beginning of the rising action for the first part of the story. I hope you have enjoyed it so far. To the few of you that have kindly commented, thank you very, very much. It’s great to know people like this story. As usual, please comment, I love comments 
.
